THE CANARY. 23 



moulting, the sooner it will be in song, 

 which ought to be an inducement for the 

 keepers of singing birds to adopt the plan 

 recommended above. 



This, however, is only to be done, when you 

 are not provided with a stop cage, which is 

 much preferable to the method above men- 

 tioned, as he is more cheerful when not 

 deprived of light, which must unavoidably 

 be the case when the cage is covered over ; 

 a stop cage indeed is the best for any small 

 bird to moult in, but more particularly for 

 fancy canaries, as they are so much more 

 valuable than the common birds. I must 

 also advise that they be always kept in a 

 stop cage when not in the breeding cage, as 

 it keeps them so much cleaner, and prevents 

 them from breaking their feathers. 



For some time before the birds are turned 

 into the breeding cages, the glass slide 

 ought to be drawn, in order to give them 

 air, beginning by drawing it a little at first, 

 and gradually increasing it, till the birds are 

 completely exposed to the air. By this 

 method they will be rendered more hardy 

 and capable of bearing the cold, than they 



